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Question: Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice his son; why did
God not tell him to give up his wealth instead?

1. There is no doubt that offering Isaac on the altar was the
hardest test Abraham ever faced. No doubt Abraham also wished that
God had instead commanded him to sacrifice his wealth. 

2. It would have been difficult for any loving parent to sacrifice
his child. But if that is all we see, we miss the point. The
ultimate test of faith was whether Abraham believed God would do
what He said He would do re. the Promises. This point is seen in
Heb. 11:17,18.

3. In the record of Gen. 22, what is really sacrificed?
     a. Not Isaac, v. 12.
     b. The ram v. 13, but this is anticlimactic, not the main
point.    
     c. Abraham's will, logic, emotion: Abraham sacrificed himself;
he truly gave self to the Lord.

4. We tend to say, I'm glad the Lord does not require that of us!
But in principle, He does. Mt.6:33; 2 Cor. 8:5; Gal. 2:20.

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